Project Life® 2013 | Week Forty-Three

Thanks for all the comments on my Week 42 layout last week. Lots of great questions in those comments that will help guide me through many more Project Life® posts. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to let me know what you like!

One thing I hope to do this week is take some more in-progress photos so you can see my starting point for each of my catch-up weeks. Most of them begin with some content already in the pockets. Sometimes it's a photo or two or a couple journal cards filled out or a post-it note (read a post about thathere) or a receipt. It's really rare that there would be nothing at all.

A couple observations I jotted down last week as I keep working my way through last year:

1. I find myself saying "good enough" a lot. I'm totally fine with that. I'm fine adding in more filler cards (ones with a phrase or sentiment or design that doesn't include part of a specific story) than I usually do. I'm fine capturing what I can with what I have and moving forward.

2. I find that whatever is on my desk is getting used and I like to use multiples of the same thing over the course of the spread. On this one you'll see me use those Heidi Swapp black word stickers a few times (which I can't seem to find a source for online anymore). It's a great way to use up supplies in addition to repetition across the spread and I find that limiting my choices simplifies the whole process.

And just peeking out from the right-hand side of this image is one of those Wanderlust Mini Days Of The Week Clothespins. I actually pulled the clothespin piece off because it was too bulky for me but I love the wood circle.

As you might have noticed I still like writing on my photos. In this case I could have taken what I wrote on my photo and added it to a card in place of "Hello There" but I like writing on my photos and I liked that filler card and it all worked out just fine.

Here's a fun way to highlight a specific person in a photo of a bunch of people: I used the Silhouette to cut this 4 inch x 6 inch vellum overlay with the heart cut out which was then placed on top of a photo of Anna and her classmates being silly after their costume day.

SUPPLIES | 2013 | WEEK FORTY-THREE

Project Life® is a product and a system and a lifestyle created by Becky Higgins. It can be anything you want it to be. The core pieces used in my album are available here. If you live outside the US check Becky’s site for more information on sources. View all my posts about Project Life® here.

Paula

Michelle t.

2014-02-25 06:55:18 -0500

Love that banner stamp set. And all the little bits on and around the photos. The vellum with the heart shape cutout around the photo of Anna and her friend at Halloween is a neat idea. Cool pages and ideas. Thanks for sharing. Michelle t

Alida

Angela

2014-02-25 09:22:23 -0500

Do you also use a precision pen to write on your photos, such as the one you reference in this post? Your lines are so straight and your writing so precise; I really enjoy you do this with your pictures.

Ali

laura g.

2014-02-25 10:04:36 -0500

love this post!! I found some labels by Martha Stewart at my nearby Staples store that I love! they are about 5/8 inch by 3 inches and come in a package of red, turquoise blue and yellow...I use them a lot..am anxious to try stamping on them using your new "Labels" stamp set...sometimes I cut one and just use a portion of it...I love the colors, it seems I have a lot of primary colors in my photos...Loving the Turquoise Edition of PL...

Ali

Amanda M.

2014-02-25 10:16:56 -0500

I meant to ask on the Unfinished Projects post and forgot - is one of the unfinished projects the update to Anna's baby album? The video you did on that was really interesting and I remember you had some things you thought you wanted to switch (moving the pages into new protectors and a new album sticks out in my mind)....any chance that may get updated as part of this project? Did you ever transfer those pages?

Ali

Dannielle

2014-02-25 15:41:11 -0500

I am wanting to get an epson printer like the one you use for your project life. I have seen mixed reviews and just had a couple of questions. I seen reviews that it does not print true 4x6 prints (It looks like it does though right??) also it says you can print 3x3 or 4x4?? have you done that?? The most important question though is does it hook up to your computer so you can print photos from your computer vs. putting a memory card directly into the printer?? (I have a mac) can't wait to be able to use this for my project life!!! Thanks for any advise :)

Andrea Williams

2014-02-25 23:10:33 -0500

I would highly recommend this printer!!!! I have a Canon selphy and it doesn't print a true 4x6 but the Epson does!! I bought it at Christmas and love it so much! You won't be disappointed. Thanks for the tip Katie! I have noticed my digital elements occasionally get cut off. Keep up the great work Ali and Katie

Katie

2014-02-25 17:20:27 -0500

I wonder if what you heard about not printing true 4x6s was because the photos are enlarged a little bit to be borderless--which matters when you have text overlaid onto the photo. I print 4x6s on my picturemate at 96% instead of 100% and there is nothing cut off and no white border--if that helps! :)

Ali

2014-02-25 16:54:06 -0500

Hi Danielle - the Picturemate Show absolutely prints 4x6 - that was a major thing for me as the one I tried previously (think it was an older Selphy) did not. I have mine connected to my computer (also super important to me) and have printed a variety of sizes that I've re-sized myself in Photoshop. I don't insert my camera card and use the options that way so I haven't tried printing a 4x4 or a 3x3 without first cropping and editing in Photoshop.

Ali

Roberta Fricke

2014-02-25 18:00:30 -0500

Hi Ali I want to start stamping directly on my photos using some of my rubber stamps. What kind of ink pad, brand do you recommend? I'm specifically looking to stamp in white. I tried Stazon but the white is actually opaque. Any suggestions?

Ali

2014-02-26 16:28:32 -0500

For stamping on photos I use StazOn ink - I see you know about that one. We haven't found a white that is great yet. Usually if I want white I will write with a white pen - either a sharpie poster paint pen or a gelly roll. If I find a great white ink for stamping on photos I'll let you know.

Ali

2014-02-26 16:32:40 -0500

I'm back! I was just asking Katie about this and she reminded me that we have been using the Memento Luxe Wedding Dress (white) ink on photos with success. It's more of a chalk/creamy ink (called a pigment ink) vs. a dye ink. I'd let it dry a bit before putting it inside a page protector. We love those inks in general.

Ellen

2014-02-26 02:29:35 -0500

HI Ali. I am curious. Do you decide what photos will go where and then print them or just print them and if you want a different size just reprint those?
What is the easiest way to print 3x4 cards?
Your response would be so helpful. I am feeling so overwhelmed trying to catch up.

Ali

2014-02-26 16:31:07 -0500

For catching up I sit here at my desk with my PL album laying open and look back through my photo archive (I organize by month) and decide which photos to print. Some weeks there are more than I can accommodate and some weeks there are less. It really depends on the number of photos I want to include for that week. Generally I just print 4x6 (7-8 of them) and then if I want to include any as 3x4 I do that after. Does that help?